Pneumatic conveyer



June 13, 1950 M. c. BALCH ET AL 2,511,033

PNEUMATIC CONVEYER Filed Oct. 29, 1948 6 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTORS 1 6. SA/VDFRSO/V y M. c. HAL cw,

June 13, 1950 M. C(BALCH ETAL PNEUMATIC CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 INVENTORS #6. 6A NOE/P6 o/v,

June 13, 1950 M. c. BALCH ETAL PNEUMATIC CONVEYER Juhe 13, 1950 M. c. BALCH ET AL PNEUMATIC CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 INVENTORS H. s. 6A/1 05R60A BY M a. 3,410,

m l I I l II .llru H June 13, 1950 M AL H HAL 2,511,033

PNEUMATIC CONVEYER I Filed Oct. 29, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 \l I J3 X6 W 4? j INVENTOR.

4/ 6/ 646.634/VOFR60/V,

BY M.6. 5 410,

A TTOR/VfYS Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PNEUMATIC CONVEYER signor to'said Balch- Application ctober 29; 1948', Serial No: 57,336"

Claims. 1'

The present invention relates to pneumatic conveyors for unloading seedecotton from the bed of a truck or wagonand transmittingthe same toa cotton'gin'having among-its principal objects-toprovide meanswhereby a load of cottonrof anysizemaybe conveniently and-expediously' unloaded and delivered to the-gin without delay.

Another equally important object-of the invention is I to provide an electrically controlled and traveling telescopiceconduit for pneumatic conveyors ofthe foregoing typewhich can beauto matically'operated atthe will-of an individual operator and thereby greatly reduce the-costs associated with unloading, and. conveying seedcotton.

Otherobjects Will-be inpart obviousand in parthereinafter pointed outas the description continues:

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. lis'a side'elevation-of the pneumaticcon-i veyor embodyingthe present invention-with the supportingandguiding tracks therefor shown in crosssection.

Fig; 2 is arr-enlarged detail view of the same.

Fig. 3 is I a rear elevationof the pneumatic conveyor and .supportingtracks; I

Fig. 4 is an-enlargeddetail View of the same.

Fig. 5 is a'detail-dongitudinal section through the traveling carriage showing the pneumatic conveyor infrontelevation.

Fig. 6 is a'detail horizon-talsectionv taken on the line -6-5-ot Fig.5 in thedirection of thearrowpointst Fig. 7 is adetail-transverse section through the travelingcarriage showing the pneumatic-con veyor in side elevation.

Figs-81s a detail horizontal section taken-substantially on thesline 8--8 of Fig. 7 inthedirec tion: of the arrow points Fig. .9 isa detailed sectional view oftheshoclc absorbing spring'and connections withthe-trav eling carriage, and

Fig. lllissa-diagram-of the electrical wiringsystem-with the central-switches included therein.

The conventional pneumatic conveyors for unloadingseed-cotton; from; the bed of a wagon or truck and-delivering the same to-acotton gin usually consists ofa conduit-comprising avertically extending and supported telescopic section I connected. by a universaLjoint-i to an angular section3 which-latter extends at substantially 90- degrees'irom the vertical sectionv I having an outlet end connected-to= a horizontally extending for delivering the seed cotton: thereto in the usual manner.v The suction created within this conduit causes thecotton to enter the lower end of the telescopic-section I' and exhaust from the-telescopic section 4 in the direction of the arrow points aswbest-s hownin Fig. 1 of the-drawings. Such pneumatic conveyors only have a capacity of unloading-aboutone baleof cotton. fromthe vehicle, butaccording to thepresent invention twototen bales of cottonto-theload may be nowunloaded without delay and I conveyed to the gin whereby onemay obtain increasesof twelve toi fifteenper cent in thecottonginned.

The conduit Ofthisp'neumatic conveyor issupported'upon a travelingcarrier or truck with thetelescopic section-I suspended-therefrom whereby the lower intake end thereof may extendover and rest-lightly upon theseed cotton within the bed of -a wagon. Theuniversal joint 2 permits the section I to-be handled over-a small radius without moving-the conduit andyet the traveling carrier will-permit theconduit to travel over the entire length of the wagon having'the seed cotton stored in the bed thereof. To counterbalance the vertically sliding tube 5 of the telescopicsection I 'cables S connect the same-tothe counter-- or any-other suitable connecting means. A: super structure-is connected to and supported upon the base'section' of the truck and consists of two vertically extending angle bars I2 having their lower end-s connected-to theend bars'l I and their-upperends are connectedtogether by means of the topangle bar I-3. Diagonally extending anglebar-s l4 connect the-top bar I3 with the forward side bar I 0 and horizontal reinforcingbars-I5 connect the-bars I-2=and I4. A plate'lli a is securedtothebar I Send supports a'stub shaft I-T-carrying a'roller l-B which latter rides upon beam I9 supported at==its-opposite ends within-1a;

. building or other support-.whereinthe pneumatic conveyor is housed. Abar ZIP-has one endconnected-to the:- plate HS' and-its" opposite' :end .apiv

otally 1 connected as 'at 2 I to-the: angular section 3 of the conduit. An adjustable. turnbuckle'supe porting i'connection: 22 is providedbetw'e'en the; 1 sections 3 .and4 of the conduit.

are connected at their opposite-ends bywelding I Angle plates 23 are connected to the opposite ends of the side bars I and each have adjustably connected thereto a rod 24. These rods 24 tudinally along the track ways 26 and the weight of the angular section 3 of the conduits maintain the roller IS in contact with the beam l9 so as to prevent the conduit from tilting forwardly due to the weight of the sections 3 and. 4 of the conduit and yet permits the free traveling movement of the carrier and conduits supported thereby.

The upper or male section of the universal joint 2 has secured thereto two diametrically oppositely arranged brackets 28 and the lower end of each bracket terminates between the side bars II and an annular or ring shaped bar 29 whereas angle plates 38 connect the medial portions of each bracket to a reinforcing bar !5. Brackets 3| each have one end secured to a side bar H and reinforcing diagonally extending bars 32 connect the same with the angle bars I5. Bolts 33 extend through the ring bar 29, the lower ends of the brackets 28, the side bars I l and the outer ends of the brackets 32 for rigidly connecting the same together. A sheave 9 is connected to and suspended from each bolt 33 so that they will be carried with the traveling carrier or truck and yet be free to swing laterally with respect thereto.

The female member of the universal joint 2 has secured thereto two diametrically oppositely disposed brackets 34 in which are rotatably supported spindles having their outer ends connected as at 35 to the ring bar 29 whereby the lower telescopic section I may be free to swing laterally in opposite directions over the bed of a wagon when removing the cotton therefrom.

A dry lubricated swivel joint is provided in the conduit whereby the angular section 3 thereof may oscillate horizontally about the stationary male member of the universal joint 2. An annular flange 36 is secured to the upper end of the tubular section of the male member of the universal joint and has seated therein graphite packing ring 31 and the lower end of the angular section 3 terminates in a flange 38 that is seated upon the packing ring 31. A floating ring 39 having ball bearing contacts is adjustably connected as at 45 with the annular flange 36 for establishing a seal therebetween and yet permits the free rotating movement of the section 3 with respect to the male member of the universal joint.

An endless cable 4| is employed for driving the traveling carrier or truck back and forth upon its track-way 26 and has one end connected to a bar l by means of an eye bolt 42 whereas its opposite end extends through the other bar l5 and is connected to a coil spring 43. One end of this coil spring 43 has an extension connected to an eye bolt 44 fastening to a bar l5 whereas the opposed extension of this coil spring is connected to the cable 4| as at 45. As the cable 41 travels back and forth the traveling carrier or truck will be carried therewith and the coil springs acts to take-up any shocks that may occur during the stop and starting movements thereof. This cable travels over an idler pulley 46 and a power driven pulley 41.

A master control switch box 48 is mounted upon a vertical bar I 2 and is provided with a vertically movable control rod 49. This rod 49 is connected to an arm 50 of a lever pivotally supported upon a bar [2 by means of the coil springs 5| whereby when the arm 59 is in the position as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the switches within the box 48 will be opened, but when the arm 58 moves downwardly one switch will be closed and when moved upwardly the other of said switches within the box 48 will be closed. The arm 50 is secured by a rotatable shaft 52 having one end mounted in a bearing 53 of the angle bar [2 and the intermediate portion of this shaft extends through one of the diagonal bars I4 so as to provide another bearing support therefor. The outer or free end of this shaft 52 extends about the upper part of the universal joint 2 as best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and has pivotally connected to its outer extremity a lever 54. Connected to the opposite ends of the lever 54 is a pair of vertically extending cables 55 and the lower ends of each cable is connected to the female section of the universal joint. The lever 54 and two cables 55 provided merely for the purpose of straddling a bracket 28 arranged between the shaft 52 and the lower or female section of the universal joint. The lever secured to the shaft 52 is provided with another arm 56 extending at an angle to the arm 50 and is connected to a bracket 3| by means of a coil spring 5'! which normally tends to rotate the shaft 52 in one direction as would elevate the rod 49. However, the connection between this shaft 52 and the lower end of the conduits retain the arm 50 against the tension of the coil spring 51 in the horizontal position as shown in the drawings which can be termed the neutral or opened positions of the electrical switches mounted with the box 48. As the pneumatic conveyor is swung upon its pivotal supports 34 in the direction of the arrow B shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings a downward pull will be exerted upon the cables 55 and the shaft 52 will be rotated to move the arm 58 downwardly which in turn will exert a downward pull upon the switch rod 49. When swinging the pneumatic conveyor in the direction of the arrow A the cables will be released whereupon the spring 5'! will cause the shaft 52 to rotate in an opposite direction to lift the rod 49. Conventional micro switches 58 are mounted upon one of the I-beams 21, one at each end thereof and said switches are normally closed. The actuators of these micro switches 58 extend within the travel of the carrier or truck so that when one of the angle bars l2 thereof strikes an actuator the micro switch thereof will be moved to its opened position.

The power unit for rotating the shaft 59 so that the drive pulley 41 connected thereto may rotate in opposite directions is preferably an electric motor 68 included ina three phase power circuit as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Included in this electric circuit are the two normally closed micro switches 58. Within the switch box 48 there is pivotally supported a lever 6| having mounted thereon two mercury tubes set in reverse with a neutral position therebetween. These switches handle two phases of the three phase electric circuit through a magnetic reversing switch 62 whereby the motor will be caused to rotate in opposite directions. When the control lever 49 is pulled downwardly the mercury tube 63 will close the electrical circuit whereby the conveyor will be caused to trave1 along its tracks in the direction of the arrow B shown in Fig. 3 and as the rod 49 is raised the mercury tube 64 will close the electrical circuit whereby the conveyor will be caused to travel in the reverse direction or that indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 3. In operation a wagon containing the seed cotton to be unloaded and conveyed to the gin passes below the intake end of the telescopic section I of the conduit and through the counter weights it adjusts itself to the height of the cotton loaded upon the bed of the wagon. As a suction is created within the conduit the cotton will be drawn from the wagon and delivered to the gin. The telescopic section I may be moved about a small radius to draw the cotton from the opposite side of the bed of the wagon. As it becomes necessary to move the conveyor to other positions upon the wagon bed the Operator simply swings the section I upon its pivot support 34. When the operator moves the section I in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 3 the shaft 52 will be released and the coil spring 5! will rotate this shaft for raising the arm 49 whereupon the electric switch 64 will be closed and the motor caused to drive the pulley 41 in an anticlockwise direction. The cable 4| will then draw the carriage and pneumatic conveyor mounted thereupon in the same direction as that of the arrow A. When the exact position of the intake end of the conveyor is positioned upon the cotton to be unloaded the operator releases the section I where it will automatically return to its vertical position and the switch 64 move to its opened or neutral position for stopping the drive to the carrier or truck. When it is necessary to move the intake end of the conveyor in an opposite direction or that indicated by the arrow B the operator moves the section I in that direction whereupon a downward pull is exerted upon the cables 55, which in turn through the shaft 52 pull the control rod 45 downwardly and thereby close the switch 64. When the switch 64 is closed the motor will be caused to rotate in an opposite direction and cause the carrier with the pneumatic conveyor to move in the direction of the arrow B. When the desired position of the intake end of the conveyor has been reached the operator again releases the section I whereby it will again return to its normal vertical position whereat the mercury switches 63 and 64 will be retained in their opened or neutral positions and the traveling movement of the carrier automatically stopped. As the traveling carrier reaches either end of its track way it will strike the actuator of a switch 58 for opening the electrical circuit and thereby stop the carrier.

We claim:

1. A pneumatic conveyor comprising in combination a track, a truck movable along said track, a conduit supported by said truck, means for driving said truck in opposite directions upon said track, control means for said driving means and means for connecting said control means to said conduit whereby when said conduit is moved in one direction said truck will carry said conduit in that direction and when moved in an opposite direction said truck will carry said conduit in the latter direction.

2. A pneumatic conveyor comprising in combination a movable conduit, means for driving said conduit in opposite direction, control means for said driving means and connected to said conduit, means for normally retaining said conduit in one position whereat said control means will be disconnected with said driving means and means whereby when said conduit is moved into opposite directions said control means will automatically cause said driving means to move said conduit in that direction in which said conduit is moved.

3. A pneumatic conveyor comprising in combination a conduit, a. telescopic section movably connected to said conduit, means for driving said conduit in opposite directions and means for connecting said telescopic section with said driving means whereby when said telescopic section is moved in either direction said conduit will be caused to move in the same direction as that in which said telescopic section is moved.

4. A pneumatic conveyor comprising in combination a conduit, a traveling carrier, means for supporting said conduit within said carrier, a telescopic intake movably connected to said conduit, means for counter balancing the movable section of said telescopic intake, means for driving said carrier in opposite directions and control means for connecting said driving means with said telescopic intake whereby when said telescopic intake is moved in opposite directions said carrier will be driven in opposite directions.

5. The combination with a track-way, a truck adapted to travel in opposite directions upon said track-way, a pneumatic conveyor supported within and suspended from said track-way, motor driven means for said truck, control means carried by said truck and connected to said motor driven means and means connecting said control means with said pneumatic conveyor whereby said motor driven means may be automatically controlled by moving said pneumatic conveyor.

MURRELL CLAYTON BALCH. HANSIL S. SANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Rennels July 11, 1933 Number 

